Editor’s note: I originally researched this tour/excursion for our own use during a 2008 Mediterranean cruise. That particular cruise has an overnight stay in Livorno, making a self-guided tour very attractive as there would be no time constraints on a one-day Cinque Terre trip. Anything that is marked in this color should be considered to be a warning concerning something that could hinder your ability to complete this tour in the alloted time.

Excursions offered by the cruise lines, as well as independent companies, all appeared to have one thing in common (They would pick you up at the port and drop you off to catch the ferry either in La Spezia or Portovenere.) Return was a reverse process, or they would pick you up by bus in Mare al Monterosso. In either case, other than travel, you were pretty much on your own. Up to three hours and ten minutes on a boat if you leave from La Spezia; 2 hours and twenty minutes from Portovenere; way too big a chunk of your available free time spent on a boat; especially since the first village of Cinque Terre is only 9 minutes away by train from La Spezia.

Another plus for a do-it-yourself tour is that you can see all five villages of Cinque Terre.  Corniglia, the center village, does not have boat dock facilities and is by-passed by the ferry system. Of course, the big plus is that the cost is considerably less -  under $40 (US) round trip from Livorno-La Spezia per person.

Map of central Livorno
Click to enlarge.

Cruise terminal and city center area.
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The map above shows the relationship between the cruise terminal area and the train station location. The distance is too great to walk. On the enlarged map, the thin red line marks the approximate route of the #1 autobus. The map at the left shows the cruise terminal and its relationship to the 'city center' area.

Your journey, of course, begins at your ship. You have several options available to you. Take a taxi (if you can capture one as drivers are looking for full day's fare.) to the Livorno Centrale station. Optionally, take a ships shuttle to the city center (most likely, Piazza Grande near Livorno's Duomo.) From there take bus #1 to the train station.

There are two locations shown for shuttle bus stops (I've seen reference to both.) It is my belief that the one on the left is the more common one. In either case, the route of the #1 autobus is shown by the red dots. For 1 Euro it will take you to the train station (maybe 10 minutes.) Tickets may be purchased at newspaper stands, tobacco shops or on-board. Similar to trains, buses have yellow machines on-board to validate your tickets. Failure to validate a ticket (or have a ticket) can result in a fine of 50 times the ticket cost plus the cost of a ticket.

Purchase, at the very least, your tickets from Livorno to La Spezia Centrale. Your travel will take you through Pisa (a train change is required there.) Schedules shown below have sufficient time for changes. Your travel between Pisa and La Spezia will take you through the sea shore resort of Viareggio.

The trains listed to the right are your choices for departure from Livorno Centrale. Bold indicates the recommended trains. There is another, shortly thereafter, in case you miss the first one.

If you miss the 8:26 train from Livorno, the next train to Cinque Terre is at 10:42. That would put your arrival in Riomaggiore about noon. Given the lack of availability of trains at that time of day, you would have 90 minutes to visit the first two villages before you must go back.

Upon arrival in La Spezia you must purchase a Cinque Terre Park Pass. The Cinque Terre booth is inside the station, near the front entry doors. The Cinque Terre pass includes all bus and rail transportation within the park area.

At this point it is probably best to refine your game plan. More specifically, how are you going to approach visiting the villages? Because of the limited time available, walking between villages should be limited to Riomaggiore to Manarolla. Take the train between all others. Because the village of Corniglia is 350+ stair steps above its train station, it should be eliminated from this visit if you are on a one day trip.

For those who intend to walk between some of the villages, the following is a list of the walk/hike time:

Immediately upon arrival in Riomaggiore, obtain a current copy of the Cinque Terre train schedule. It may differ from that which is posted here. Be certain that you can read and understand the schedule. Ask questions, if necessary, before departing the station.

It is especially important that you confirm the time and location of the train that you wish to take when heading back to the ship.

Livorno times are arrival at the Livorno Centrale train station. You must allow at least 30-45 minutes additional time to get back to the ship. Your quickest and safest method of return is a taxi from the train station.

For the very latest train schedules for Livorno-Cinque Terre, please Click Here.